in April 2025 Babies 🇬🇧

Engaged/Dilated?

This is my first pregnancy & it might be a stupid question 😂 but I keep seeing loads of ladies on here saying “I’m 37 weeks & 2/5ths engaged & 3cm dilated” But how do you find that out? Is it through an internal examination with the midwife or something? I’m currently 37 + 5 and got a midwife apt this Thursday so just wondering what to expect? And how do you find out if baby’s engaged & you’re dilated? Been getting intense pressure, pelvic pain, diarrhoea, nausea and cramping the last week or so too! Thanks girlies!

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Don’t have the answer but commenting to follow the post. 37+5 too so would love to know x

Yeah I’m super intrigued as to how we find these details out, I’m desperate to know what I am! 😂 x

Same!! Would be nice to know if she’s even thinking about coming out yet haha 😂 xx

I got examined by a midwife today so I have the answer! They check engagement by feeling where the baby's head is. She said she could feel about 3/5 of the head through my belly which means 2/5 is in the pelvis, so 2/5 engaged. Dilation is checked either with a speculum (visual inspection), or by the midwife inserting 2-3 fingers and actually feeling your cervix. Mine did both because my cervix was really high so she couldn't see it. They will probably do engagement at your appointment, and might do dilatation, but might not if the baby isn't engaged as likelihood is your cervix will be closed

@Julie How many weeks are you?

37+5 too, and my waters broke in the early morning so my exam was to see if labour was progressing or if I needed an induction. I'm in the hospital waiting for a delivery room now. I think they start doing these exams at about 36-38 weeks at the regular midwife appointments if you're not already in labour

@Julie ekkkk! Good luck! let us know when baby arrives ❤️

When I go for my midwife appointments and she feels baby, she’ll say “the head is down but not engaged”. Can’t comment on the dilated bit though!

Dumb question...what's the difference between head down and engaged? As I get told "baby is head down in position"?

@Emma the scoring is based on how far below your pelvis the head is, so baby can be facing the right way but not yet be that low down that only part of their head can be felt xx

Thank you!

I went to see my midwife today and I am 37+3 she said baby was engaged but didn’t do an examination of dilation! X

Also had a midwife appointment today (38 weeks) and was told baby was 1/5 engaged, so she could only feel 4/5 of her head. Next appointment is on my due date at which point she said we’ll discuss further options but didn’t check if I’m dilated at all x

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